Tumbler key



*El W sept. 29, 1925. 1,555,384

G. A. REITER TUMBLER KEY Filed om. 18 1925' l um; UW" o j I l www Eff' earner orner..

UNTED STATES.

GU'STAV A. REITER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

TUMBLER KEY.

Application led October 18, 1923.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GUs'rAv A. REITER, a subject of Germany, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Tumbler Key, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to keys for door locks and the like wherein a tumblercarrier is mounted in connection with a key bit for locking` the bit in engagement with a lock to prevent the operation of the lock by an unauthorized person.

The primary object ofmyV invention is to provide an improved key for door locks and the like.

Another object is to provide an improved means for locking a key bit within a lock to prevent the unauthorized removal of the bit, and operation of the lock.

A further object is to provide an improved tumbler key wherein a common actuating member serves for turning the key bit within the lock and for actuating the tumblers of the key for locking and releasing the bit relative to the carrier.

A still further object is to provide an improved device of the character described which will facilitate the manufacture and assembling of the key and which will effectually retain the several parts in assembled relation.

A further object is to provide an improved device adapted for use in connection with the ordinary interior door lock to afford increased security and to aiford a lock-l ing means comparable to the more complicated and expensive locks now commonly provided on outer doors and the like.

I accomplish these and other objects by means of the device disclosed in the drawings forming a part of the present speci fication wherein like characters of reference are used to designate similar parts throughout said specification and drawings and in which,

Fig. 1 is a broken side elevation partly in section of a door lock showing the application of my improved key thereto.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section showing the nanner in which the key is applied to the ook.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of my improved key.

Fig. 4 is a view similar .tc Fig. 3 with Serial No. 669,312.

the key bit turned through an angle of ninety degrees.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail showing the manner in which the tumbler carrier is in itially applied upon the key bit. Y

Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the bit rotated through 180O whereby the tumblers are initially brought into operative engagement with the bit.

Fig. 7 ista view similar to Fig. 6 shoW- 05 ing the manner in which the tumblers are actuated to release the bit.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section `taken upon the line 8 8 of Fig. 5 in the direction in dicated. v

Referring to the drawings the numeral l is used to designate in general a door lock wherein a slidable bolt or locking member 2 is arranged to be actuated by a key inserted into a key hole 8. Locks of this general type are 'now quite generally applied upon interior doors of houses, and buildings of all kinds, and in older houses this type of lock is frequently found provided also upon the outer doors. Locks of this B0 type are commonly provided with a plurality of tumblers 4 arranged to be engaged by suitable wards formed upon the bit of a key, the wards being moved by the bit to release the bolt for movement either into or out of the locking position. Such tumblers however' do not constitute an effectual bar to the manipulation of the lock by an unauthorized person as when the key is removed from the lock the tumblers vmay be easily manipulated and the bolt moved by means other than the proper key for the lock. Furthermore, even when the key is left in the lock it may be easily displaced from the opposite side ofthe door to permit the introduction of another or other instrument from the opposite side of the door to operate the lock whereby'an unscrupulous person may gain access to a room. Itis therefore my purpose to provide an improved key which may be effectively locked in engagement with the lock to prevent the introduction of any other key or instrumentY for operating the lock.

I accomplish this purpose by mounting a key securing member 6 in connection with a key bit 7 fitted to any particular lock of the character described. The key bit 7 is provided with a relatively short shank 8.1

' having @1.1 @anular ,bea-d 9 formed ,thereon in 110 slightly spaced relation to the bit. A. longitudinally disposed groove 11 is formed in one side of the shank at right angles to the bit 7, and a plurality of apertures 12 are bored from the opposite of the shank within the plane of the groove said apertures 12 being of a diameter slightly greater than the width of the groove whereby' recesses are made in the sides of the groove adjacent the back thereof, The groove 11 extends to a point between the bead 9 and the bit 7, and the grooved end of the' shank is made of slightly greater diameter than the portion adjacent the bit 7 lfor a purpose that will' hereinafter be more fully explained..

The securing member 6 consists ofV a body having a longitudinally disposed bearing portion 13 formed upon one edge of the securing member and arranged to receive the groovedy end of the shank 8. A plurality of openings. 14 are. formed in the body of the member at right angles to` the bearing portion 13, said openings communicating between the outer edge ofthe member 6 and the bearing portion. A split tumbler 16 is slidably mounted within each opening 14. Springs .17 are mounted within the openings 14 to normally advance the tumblers 16, the springs and tumblers being retained withinfthe openings by means of plugs 18 permanentlysecured within the .outer ends of the openings after the tumblers and springs have been inserted. The forward endofthemember. 6 extends .past the bead 9j and is provided with. an extension 19" adapted to be received within the groove 11. A notch'21 is formed in the body immediatelyback ofthe extension 19 to receive the-bead 9.

The-'member is assembled by inserting the grooved end of the shankS into the bearing portion 13, the. extension 19 `being received inthe groove 11. The shank is advanced until the Vbead 9 Aengages the end of the bearing portion 13'at which pointthe bead 9 will register with. the notch 21 and the eX- tension 19 wil'lclear the groove 11, as shown in F 5. of the drawings, whereby the shankmayy be rotated within the bearing portion 13. The tumblers 16 are depressed.

againstftheir spring 17 in any convenient manner while the-shank is being initially inserted.

After 4the-shankl has been moved to the positionshownin Fig. 5 as above explained, it is turned through an angle 01"'180O whereby-theA apertures 12 are moved to register withtheopenings14 of the member 6 as showninA Fig. 6 ofV thel drawings, the tumblers 16 being inovedbyf-the springs 17 to enter said apertures whereby the shank becomes locked against further rotation Withinthe bearing portion. The movement of thetumblers--lt into the apertures 12 is limitedfso as-to allow a clearance between serted as above explained the shank may.

be freely rotated within the bearing portion 13 by means of the member 22, the inner ends of the tumblers being enclosed within the shank and ycarried therewith. The bit 7 may now be turned independently of the securing member 6 to operate the lock in the usualmanner, said bitbeingprovided with wards adapted to match with the tumblers 4 in the well known manner.

It will be-noted that the groove 11 is arranged at right angles to ther bit 7 and that the apertures 12 will register with the openings 14 to permit the operation of the tumblers 16 only when the bit is lin a position at right angles to the securing member 6. Thus if the key 22 has been inserted yand vthe shank rotated in either direction the ends of the tumblers will prevent the removal of the key. from slot, and thereby prevent the removal of the member 6 from the shank 8 even though the groove. 8`be moved to register with the extension 19, rthe key 22 being provided witlishoulders 25 fitting against the end of the bearing venting the. member 6 against movement relative to the shank 8. When the tumblers 16 are moved to operative position and the key- 22 withdrawn, the tumblers themselves and the beafd9 and notch 21. combine to prevent the removal of the member 6 from the shank. These features are important as they serve to maintain the device in assembled relation and insuring'against damage to the device when in service.

In use, vthe shank S -is turned manually to admit the key 22 and then turned to bring the bit 7 into alignment with the member 6. r1`he bit 7 and member 6 are then inserted together into the keyhole 3 of the lock 1 the bit' being moved to operative position with respect to the lock in the usual manner while the securing member is held within the outer portion of the key hole as best shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The `bit 7 may Vnow be turned `independently of the securing member 6 by means of the actuating key. 22 to move the boltto lock-ing position. The member 22 .is then moved to turn the .bit any additional amount necessary to portion 13 andprev` from being .moved thereover, andthe tumblerslocking the key bring the bit to the position at right angles to the member 6 so as to permit the removal of the member 22 from the slot l1. As the key is Withdrawn the tumblers will move to lock the shank 8 against rotation in either direction relative to the member 6, Which will itself be held against rotation by engagement With the sides of the key hole. The bit being in a position transverse to the member 6 and to the keyhole 3 effectually prevents the removal of either the securing member or the bit from the key hole and in this Way prevents the introduction of any instrument by Which the lock might be operated by an unauthorized person. The tumblers will prevent the operation of the bit 7 until the proper key or actuating member 7 is inserted in the slot l1 in this manner making the ordinary door lock as secure as the more complicated and expensive lock sometimes installed.

The devices may of course be inserted from either side so as to guard against intrusion by an unauthorized person either While the occupant of the room isipresent or absent. The key 22 is preferably made of thin flat sheet material which may easily be carried, in this manner avoiding the carrying of the larger key by which the lock is ordinarily operated. An index 26 is found on one side of the key to indicate the correct manner of inserting the key 22 into I the lock.

The device is of particular value in connection with hotels and the like, the rooms of which are particularly subject to intrusion because of the ease With Which the locks ordinarily provided may be operated by unauthorized persons. My improved key may be readily fitted to the ordinary locks at very small expense and in this manner security afforded Without the prohibitive cost of installing expensive locks.

The precise structure Which I have shown and described may of course be modified in various Ways Without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore do not Wish to restrict myself closely to the precise disclosure made, but desire to avail myself of such modications as may fall Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

l. A key comprising a bit adapted for insertion into a lock for operating the locking member thereof, said bit being provided With a grooved shank having an annular bead formed thereon and intersected by the groove; a securing member provided with a bearing portion rotatably engaging the grooved shank; an extension forme upon the securing member to engage the bead and normally hold the securing member upon the shank, said extension being initially moved past the bead through the groove; a plurality of tumblers mounted Within the securing member and adapted to engage apertures formed Within the shank in communication with the groove for locking the bit against movement Within the lock; and an actuating member adapted to be inserted into the groove to depress the tumblers to releasing position whereby the bit may be turned Within the lock by said actuating member to operate the locking member and to permit withdrawal of the bit and the securing member from the lock.

2. A key comprising a bit adapted for insertion into a lock for operating the locking member thereof, said bit being provided With a grooved shank having an annular shoulder formed thereon and intersected by the groove; a securing member rotatably mounted upon the shank; an extension formed upon the securing member and adapted to be moved through the groove and turned to engage the bead to prevent longitudinal movement of the securing member along the shank; a plurality of tumblers mounted Within the securing member and adapted to engage apertures formed in the shank opposite the groove and communicating 'with the back of said groove whereby the inner ends of the tumblers may extend into the back of the groove to lock the bit against movement Within the lock; and an actuating member adapted to be inserted into the grooves to depress the tumblers to releasing position whereby the bit may be turned Within the lock by the actuating member to operate the locking member of the lock and to permit the Withdrawal of the securing member from the lock, said actuating member being engaged and held by the tumblers When the bit is turned to permit Withdrawal from the lock.

3, A key comprising a bit adapted for insertion into a lock for operating the locking member thereof, said bit being provided with a shank having a longitudinally disposed groove formed therein Within a plane at substantially right angles to the bit and also having a. plurality of apertures formed therein to communicate With the groove at the back thereof; a securing member rotatably mounted upon the shank and adapted for insertion with the bit into the keyhole of the lock; a bead formed upon the shank in slightly spaced relation to the bit, said bead being intersected by the groove; an eXtension formed upon the securing member and adapted to be moved through the groove into engaging relation With the bead to prevent longitudinal movement of the securing members upon the shank; a plurality of d tumblers mounted Within the securing member, said tumblers entering the apertures of the shank When the shank is turned to move said aperture to registering relation with the tumblers, the ends of the tumblers entering the back oi"- the groove and normally preventing a turning movement of the bit relative to the securing member whereby the bit may be held in a. position transverse to the key hole of the lock to prevent removal of the bit from the lock and to prevent the securing member from being turned to cause the extension to register with the groove; and an actuating member adapted to be inserted into the groove to depress the tumblers to releasing position whereby the bit may betuined `to operate the locking member of the lock and .also moved to a position permitting the removal of the key and securing member from the key hole, said actuating member being held by the tumblers to prevent the removal of the securing member from the shank when the key is removed from the lock.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my signature.

GUSTAV A. REITER. 

